Workshops
Details
Workshop Schedule
Wednesday, September 5
Verizon 5G: The Fourth Industrial Revolution
(Sponsored Workshop by Verizon)
9:30 AM-10:30 AM
Workshop Room 1 (2nd Floor, Moscone West)
Verizon believes 5G will usher in the 4th Industrial Revolution, changing the way we live, work and play, and upending industries ranging from entertainment to healthcare to manufacturing. Hear the opportunities this can create for entrepreneurs and start-ups.
[REGISTER YOUR INTEREST]
Bose – More Than Just Music
(Sponsored Workshop by Bose)
10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Workshop Room 2 (2nd Floor, Moscone West)
Bose has been innovating in audio for fifty years, from creating tiny speakers with room-filling sound to noise-cancelling headphones. Come hear about the latest innovations in audio and our new venture fund from members of the Bose team.
[REGISTER YOUR INTEREST]
Operationalize Data Science on the Journey to a Model-driven Enterprise
(Sponsored Workshop by Galvanize)
11:00 AM-12:00 pM
Workshop Room 1 (2nd Floor, Moscone West)
We are at the beginning of the 4th industrial revolution. Companies who do not transform their businesses to become fully data- and model-driven empowered by Machine Intelligence models will, simply put, not survive. In this session, we will define what a model-driven, agile enterprise looks like and illuminate its strengths. We’ll discuss why it’s so hard to become model-driven, with a particular focus on the organizational change management that must happen in order to operationalize the models and realize the ROI. We’ll provide stepping stones and best practices that can be applied to transform your organization’s culture into one that harnesses data and benefits from mode
[REGISTER YOUR INTEREST]
Engage Brand Ambassadors That Grow Your Business
(Sponsored Workshop by Campus Commandos)
2:00 PM-3:00PM
Workshop Room 2 (2nd Floor, Moscone West)
Engaging college students early is a core objective of many advertisers today, in this workshop attendees will learn little-known tips top brands are using for their student marketing programs. Adam Grant will share how to change the traditional process for finding student influencers, keeping them motivated for consistent results, and how to apply solutions internally without expanding costs.
[REGISTER YOUR INTEREST]
Thursday, September 6
Solving the crisis – how the business community is addressing the Bay Area’s regional challenges
(Sponsored Workshop by Bay Area Council)
9:30 AM-10:30 AM
Workshop Room 2 (2nd Floor, Moscone West)
Bay Area Council Economic Institute President Dr. Micah Weinberg will present on the Bay Area economy – Continuing Growth and Unparalleled Innovation: Bay Area Economic Profile – followed by a discussion with industry leaders to address the challenges borne out of the region’s economic success. How can companies work with elected officials and civic leaders to innovate, incentivize, and improve the quality of life for everyone in our region? Moderated by Council CEO Jim Wunderman, leaders from some of the Bay Area’s most prominent companies – including Carla Boragno of Genentech, Michael Matthews of Facebook and Vikrum Aiyer of Postmates – will explore issues such as housing, transportation and climate change, and the role the business community can play to drive social results.
[REGISTER YOUR INTEREST]
Bringing NASA Technology Down to Earth
(Sponsored Workshop by NASA)
10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Workshop Room 1 (2nd Floor, Moscone West)
Whether you want to start a company, improve your existing products, or develop new ones, NASA may be the source for your technology solutions. Technology Transfer Program Executive Dan Lockney explains how NASA works with companies to develop new products and services.
[REGISTER YOUR INTEREST]
All Raise Women Founder Roundtables + All Raise AMA
10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Reception Room 1 (2nd Floor, Moscone West)
Join AllRaise and female founders at Disrupt SF in interactive and intimate discussions on topics surrounding major challenges that female founders face such as fundraising, recruiting strategies, company culture, sales and marketing strategies, board/investor management, M&A and more. Open to female founders from all badge types. At this AllRaise AMA, participants will have a chance to ask the top women in venture questions about whatever is top of mind.
[REGISTER YOUR INTEREST]
Open only to women registered at Disrupt SF.
Bleeding-Edge IT Trends Explained
(Sponsored Workshop by SONM)
11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Workshop Room 2 (2nd Floor, Moscone West)
Industry expert SONM CTO Igor Lebedev will finally explain what’s behind the concepts of blockchain, distributing computing and other hottest IT trends.
[REGISTER YOUR INTEREST]
Quantum Computing with Qiskit
(Sponsored Workshop by IBM)
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Workshop Room 1 (2nd Floor, Moscone West)
Bring your laptop and join us for a hands-on workshop designed to get you quantum-ready. Leave with an understanding of how to program an IBM Q cloud-based quantum computer using Qiskit, a Python-based programming framework that is open, fully modular, and doesn’t require learning a new programming language. Participants will learn quantum fundamentals including working with quantum algorithms and applications using Qiskit Aqua, an end-to-end, cross-domain, modular and extensible software library that allows classical computer applications to interface with quantum computers. All levels of quantum expertise are welcome.
[REGISTER YOUR INTEREST]
The Nuts And Bolts Of Locations Aware Application
(Sponsored Workshop by TomTom)
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Workshop Room 1 (2nd Floor, Moscone West)
Gregory De Jans, Head of Developer Relations offers a deep dive into the use of TomTom Maps APIs for developers looking to leverage the power of location insights. Learn about APIs for map display, search, routing, traffic and map SDKs.
[REGISTER YOUR INTEREST]
Friday, September 7
The Best Route For Startups: Integrating Location
(Sponsored Workshop by HERE Technologies)
10:00am – 11:00am
Workshop Room 1 (2nd Floor, Moscone West)
Discover why the question of ‘where’ is more relevant than ever before. This workshop is specifically designed with startups in mind. Learn how to quickly onboard fundamental location services into software solutions. Get hands-on training with the HERE Freemium Plan to use services such as geocoding, routing, and positioning to build location-aware features.
[REGISTER YOUR INTEREST]
Hacking Human Performance
(Sponsored Workshop by Red Bull)
11:30am – 12:30pm
Workshop Room 1 (2nd Floor, Moscone West)
Join Dr. David Putrino, Red Bull High Performance Center consultant and Mt Sinai Director of Rehabilitation Innovation, as he explores the use of evidence-based technologies to maximize high performance and human potential.
[REGISTER YOUR INTEREST]
Beyond The ICO: New approaches To fundraising And VC’s Role In Crypto
(Sponsored Workshop by Constellation Labs)
1:30 PM-2:30 PM
Workshop Room 1 (2nd Floor, Moscone West)
Constellation has been through an extraordinary period of fundraising and subsequent growth. Ben Jorgensen (COO of Constellation Labs) and team will share their experiences in this interactive session exploring the complex and ever-changing fund raising models available, and how venture capital is approaching the space.
[REGISTER YOUR INTEREST]
Running A Node On A Distributed Ledger: Live Demo
(Sponsored Workshop by Constellation Labs)
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Workshop Room 1 (2nd Floor, Moscone West)
Wyatt (CTO) and Ryle (VP of Engineering) will demystify the key components of distributed ledger technology, and provide a guide on how to set up a Constellation node. Participants will leave with the basic skills they need to contribute to an emerging 3rd-Gen protocol.
[REGISTER YOUR INTEREST]
September 4th
Registration / Badge Pick Up
Avoid the rush on Wednesday! Stop by on Tuesday, September 4 from 12 noon to 4pm to pick up your badge so you’re ready to hit the ground running on your first day of Disrupt! Make sure to remember your government issued photo ID to pick up your badge.
Welcome Reception @ WeWork Montgomery Station
Pick up your Disrupt SF badge and grab some beer and light appetizers at the Welcome Reception at WeWork Montgomery Station location – 44 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94104. Space is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. RSVP required. Please RSVP here https://disruptsf2018weworkwelcomerece.splashthat.com/.
September 5th
Registration Open / Doors Open
Welcome to Disrupt SF! Doors will open at 7:30am and you can pick up your badge at registration from 7:30am to 5pm today.
Welcome Remarks: Mike Butcher (TechCrunch)
Welcome Remarks: Matthew Panzarino (TechCrunch)
How Did I Get Here by Cyan Banister (Founders Fund)
Founders Fund Partner Cyan Banister tells her surprising origin story, and explains how people, not processes, were the key to her success.
Beyond Moonshots with Alan Stern (NASA)
Alan Stern has overseen ambitious projects from NASA’s New Horizons Pluto mission to Moon Express’s attempt at a privately developed lunar landing. Hear what’s next for interplanetary exploration and commercialization from an aerospace veteran.
Editing Reality with Anjney Midha (Ubiquity6)
Ubiquity6 is still in its early stages, but the technology is right on time. As AR/VR finally pick up traction, we’ll discuss with Midha how Ubiquity6 can have an impact.
Gaming’s Next Respawn with John Riccitiello (Unity)
Unity wants to turn consumers into creators. Hear CEO John Riccitiello explain how his company’s gaming engine is making that possible by building development tools accessible to anyone.
Verizon 5G: The Fourth Industrial Revolution
Verizon believes 5G will usher in the 4th Industrial Revolution, changing the way we live, work and play, and upending industries ranging from entertainment to healthcare to manufacturing. Hear Dr. Sanyogita Shamsunder, VP of 5G Ecosystem and Innovation at Verizon discuss the opportunities this can create for entrepreneurs and start-ups.
Book Signing: Exploring Private and Public Space Exploration
with Alan Stern (Southwest Research Institute)
A Diamond in the Rough with James Monsees (JUUL)
JUUL has become one of the fastest growing consumer hardware companies in the world, but not without its fair share of obstacles, from regulation to competition. Hear James Monsees discuss the company’s overall mission and the path forward.
Insuring the Future with Daniel Schreiber (Lemonade)
A leading insuretech CEO will discuss the challenges and opportunities of building a company in one of the world’s most sclerotic industries.
SPONSORED WORKSHOP- More Than Just Music Sponsored by Bose
Bose has been innovating in audio for fifty years, from creating tiny speakers with room-filling sound to noise-cancelling headphones. Come hear about the latest innovations in audio and our new venture fund from members of the Bose team.
From Private to Public with Drew Houston (Dropbox)
Dropbox’s CEO spent more than 10 years preparing his cloud storage company to go public; he’ll talk about what kept him going and where Dropbox goes from here.
Beyond Startup Battlefield with Bobby Lo (Vurb), Aaron Patzer (Vital Software) and Priscilla Elora Sharuk (Myki)
Participating in the TechCrunch Disrupt Battlefield can give your startup a distinct advantage. We talk to several Battlefield alumni and find out how the experience affected them.
Q&A Session: Uniting Under Unity
with John Riccitiello (Unity Technologies)
BREAK
BREAK
Decoding the DNA Opportunity with Anne Wojcicki (23andMe)
Anne Wojcicki co-founded 23andMe to empower consumers with their genetic information. Now, 12 years after its founding, hear from CEO Wojcicki on the tremendous opportunities that can be unlocked by genetic testing.
SPONSORED WORKSHOP – Operationalize Data Science on the Journey to a Model-driven Enterprise – Sponsored by Galvanize
We are at the beginning of the 4th industrial revolution. Companies who do not transform their businesses to become fully data-driven and empowered by Machine Intelligence models will, simply put, not survive. In this session, we will define what a model-driven, agile enterprise looks like and illuminate its strengths. We’ll discuss why it’s so hard to become model-driven, with a particular focus on the organizational change management that must happen in order to operationalize the models and realize the ROI. We’ll provide stepping stones and best practices that can be applied to transform your organization’s culture into one that harnesses data and benefits from models.
The Promise and Perils of Early Branding with Emily Heyward (Red Antler), Philip Krim (Casper) and Tina Sharkey (Brandless)
Building a brand isn’t as simple as choosing a color scheme and designing a logo. Emily Heyward, Philip Krim and Tina Sharkey are experts in the business. Listen as they share their insights.
China and US face off in AI with Kai-Fu Lee (Sinovation)
Distinguished technologist and investor, Kai-Fu Lee on his provocative, forthcoming book, AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and The New World Order. (Dr. Lee will also participate in a separate audience Q&A session after this interview.
SPONSORED SESSION – Getting to Level 5: The Path to Autonomy by HERE Technologies
How do we get from advanced driver assistance systems to full vehicle automation? How do we better understand the enabling technologies required to reach each level of automation? Neal Oman, head of research at HERE Technologies, will dive into the technology platforms of today and of the future. He will provide an expert point of view on large-scale data fusion and processing, AI and ML applications, HD mapping, and the various market approaches to achieving higher levels of automation.
Making Sound Investments with Ashton Kutcher and Effie Epstein (Sound Ventures)
Sound Ventures partners Ashton Kutcher and Effie Epstein on their firm’s investment thesis, the influence of celebrity status, and more in this wide-ranging interview.
Advancing Equity in Silicon Valley: In Conversation with Arlan Hamilton (Backstage Capital) and Aniyia Williams (Black & Brown Founders)
Silicon Valley does not have a good track record when it comes to diversity and inclusion. Companies point to the “pipeline problem” as the culprit. But that’s a myth. Hear Arlan Hamilton and Aniyia Williams discuss ways in which black and Latinx founders can take a bigger share of Silicon Valley’s money.
SPONSORED NETWORKING – Fuel with sweetgreen during Disrupt Week 2018 Sponsored by sweetgreen
Take a break from the action with $10 app credit to use at sweetgreen. Redeem your app credit at our SoMa location (171 2nd St.)—only a 5-minute walk away. Grab a (new) friend and come by for lunch or dinner. Redeem your $10 credit with this link: bit.ly/sgdisrupt. Limited quantities available, so claim your credit before it’s gone! *valid for new sweetgreen app users only
BREAK
BREAK
SPONSORED WORKSHOP – Hacking Human Performance Sponsored by Red Bull
Join Dr. David Putrino, Red Bull High-Performance Center consultant and Mt Sinai Director of Rehabilitation Innovation, as he explores the use of evidence-based technologies to maximize high performance and human potential.
Q&A Session: Get Your 5G Questions Answered by Verizon's 5G Experts
with Sanyogita Shamsunder (Verizon) -session powered by Verizon
Q&A Session: Building Brands
with Emily Heyward (Red Antler), Philip Krim (Casper) and Tina Sharkey (Brandless)
Back in Fashion with Sophia Amoruso (Girlboss)
Sophia Amoruso founded and ran Nasty Gal and, along the way, turned her book Girlboss and Netflix series into a media company. Amoruso will sit down with former TechCrunch co-editor Alexia Bonatsos to discuss the challenges facing young executives of startups.
The Robots Are Coming with Peter Barrett (Playground Global), Helen Boniske (Lemnos VC), Claire Delaunay (Nvidia) and Cyril Ebersweiler (SOSV/HAX)
Four top hardware experts discuss the how advances in AI, sensors, and GPUs are remaking the robotics world amidst an ever-evolving labor market.
Live Demo with Jason Mars (Clinc)
See the latest in conversational artificial intelligence with this startup out of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Defending the Future with Keoki Jackson (Lockheed Martin)
As the CTO of Lockheed Martin, Keoki Jackson has the tall order of leading the massive technology complex in an arms race against Silicon Valley. Hear about the company’s latest efforts in artificial intelligence and space travel.
Building the Car of Tomorrow, Today with Reilly Brennan (Trucks VC), Chris Urmson (Aurora) and Laurie Yoler (Zoox)
Hear a discussion around regulations, technology and processes that need to be in place before self-driving cars can become a reality.
SPONSORED WORKSHOP – Engage brand ambassadors that grow your business Sponsored by Campus Commandos
Engaging college students early is a core objective of many advertisers today, in this workshop attendees will learn little-known tips top brands are using for their student marketing programs. Adam Grant, CEO of Campus Commandos, will share how to change the traditional process for finding student influencers, keeping them motivated for consistent results, and how to apply solutions internally without expanding costs.
Q&A Session: Investing in Robots
with Peter Barrett (Playground Global), Helen Boniske (Lemnos VC) and Cyril Ebersweiler (HAX/SOSV)
Startup Battlefield Competition – Flight #1
TechCrunch’s iconic startup competition is back, as entrepreneurs from around the world pitch expert judges and vie for the Battlefield Cup and $100,000.
Launching a New Space Economy with Natalya Bailey (Accion Systems), Peter Beck (Rocket Labs) and Will Marshall (Planet)
As rockets and satellites proliferate, Accion Systems’ Natalya Bailey, Peter Beck of Rocket Labs, and Will Marshall from Planet will discuss how a new space economy is being built with room for nations and startups alike.
SPONSORED SESSION – Mobility is Changing. Are you ready for it? – by TomTom
Leandro Margulis sits at the intersection between product and business. From connected cars to Uber to autonomous driving, learn how the mobility landscape is changing, and the ways in which TomTom innovation is leading the way.
The Yes and No of ICO with Avichal Garg (Electric Capital), Arianna Simpson (Autonomous Partners) and Valerie Szczepanik (SEC)
Electric Capital’s Avichal Garg, alongside Arianna Simpson of Autonomous Partners and Valerie Szczepanik from the SEC, discuss the finer points of an Initial Coin Offering and what it means for the future of investment.
Q&A Session: Space, the Final Fund Tier
with Natalya Bailey (Accion Systems), Peter Beck (Rocket Labs), Tess Hatch (Bessemer Venture Partners) and Will Marshall (Planet)
Q&A Session: On AI, ML & DL
with Kai-Fu Lee (Sinovation). Meet and greet with Kai-Fu to follow
From Blockchain to Banking with Brad Garlinghouse (Ripple) and Michael Arrington (Arrington XRP Capital, founder, TechCrunch)
What sets XRP apart from the rest of the crypto crowd, and what’s in store for this intriguing if volatile category.
BREAK
Venture Capital in 2018 with Aileen Lee (Cowboy Ventures), Megan Quinn (Spark Capital), Sarah Tavel (Benchmark Capital)
Hear from three leading venture capitalists about the trends impacting, and in some cases roiling, the business of investing in startups.
Data vs Chronic Conditions with Glen Tullman and Jennifer Schneider (Livongo Health)
How Glen Tullman and Jennifer Schneider are using data, diagnostics and community to reframe treatment for chronic conditions like diabetes.
BREAK
Reaching The Next Creators with Roblox’s David Baszucki (Roblox)
The founder and CEO of Roblox built one of the most popular entertainment platforms of this generation. During his fireside chat, he’s set to talk about building a brand globally that’s embraced by younger players, and built by those same players.
SPONSORED SESSION – The Hearing Aid Reinvented: LivioTM AI – by Starkey Hearing Technologies
Welcome to the hearing revolution! Starkey® Hearing Technologies has reinvented both the hearing experience and the hearing aid with LivioTM AI. LivioTM AI is the world’s first hearing aid to utilize integrated sensors and artificial intelligence. With a ground-breaking ecosystem, superior sound quality and the ability to track brain and body health, LivioTM AI is a multi-purpose device that redefines what a hearing aid can do.
Q&A Session: Inside ICOs
with Aleksei Antonov (SONM), Avichal Garg (Electric Capital), Arianna Simpson (Autonomous Partners) and Valerie Szczepanik (SEC) -session powered by SONM
Regulating Finance and Cryptocurrency with Jina Choi (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, San Francisco)
Jina Choi is the director of the SEC’s San Francisco Regional Office where she sits at the epicenter of startups and finance. In this wide-ranging discussion we’ll explore what it takes to regulate, manage, and grow the financial world in a place where technology changes the rules every minute.
Deliverance with DoorDash’s Tony Xu
As long as people are hungry and busy, food delivery will continue to have a huge market. All the same, it’s also a fiercely competitive business, with hundreds of me-too offerings, and hundreds more variants on the basic model. Hear from the founder and CEO of one of the leading startups in that space, DoorDash, talk about how he built a startup that stands apart from the fray and where it will go next.
Startup Battlefield Competition – Flight #2
TechCrunch’s iconic startup competition is back, as entrepreneurs from around the world pitch expert judges and vie for the Battlefield Cup and $100,000.
SPONSORED SESSION – Squirrel AI, the machine that regularly outperforms human teachers and redefines education – Sponsored by Yixue Squirrel AI Learning
Derek Haoyang Li will talk about how AI systems such as Yixue Squirrel AI uses innovative technologies that combines artificial intelligence with adaptive pedagogy to give every child a super teacher and bring equity to education.
East Meets West with Norman Liang (WI Harper Group), Hans Tung (GGV Capital) and Yi Wang (Lingochamp)
Will the Belt and Road initiative pave over U.S. capital markets? A discussion of Chinese tech companies’ road to U.S. markets.
WRAP
WRAP
September 6th
SPONSORED NETWORKING – Virtual Workout Session Sponsored by Aaptiv
Start your day with an inspiring workout led by one of Aaptiv’s personal trainers! TechCrunch Disrupt attendees get free, unlimited access to Aaptiv — on-demand audio workouts you can do in the hotel gym, in your room, or on the streets of San Francisco. Choose from more than 2,500 classes for running, cardio machines, strength, HIIT, yoga and more. Get started at aaptiv.com/disrupt.
Registration Open / Doors Open
Welcome to Disrupt SF! Doors will open at 7:30am and you can pick up your badge at registration from 7:30am to 5pm today.
Women of Disrupt Breakfast sponsored by United Airlines
Join the women of Disrupt for fun networking over a light breakfast. United Airlines will kick off the event with some welcome remarks followed by a presentation on how you can become involved in BBG’s WAVE Advisor Program to help mentor young women exploring careers in tech. Open to women only who are registered for Disrupt SF.
Opening Remarks: Mike Butcher (TechCrunch)
Opening Remarks: Matthew Panzarino (TechCrunch)
Fireside Chat with Michael Rubin (Fanatics)
Hear serial entrepreneur Michael Rubin talk about what it’s like to run an e-commerce business worth billions.
Product Launch and Fireside Chat Dieter May (BMW)
Watch the unveiling of BMW’s next innovation and hear what it took to build the technology.
Creating a Lifeline in Communities
Strong communities inside and outside of prison can help foster success. Hear from Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins (Promise), Rose Afriyie (mRelief), Frederick Hutson (Pigeonly) and Neil Shah (Concrn) about how tech can help empower inmates and create pathways to success in communities.
Finding the Next Silicon Valley with Doug Leone (Sequoia)
Hear how the global managing partner of Sequoia Capital helped set the firm’s strategy in China — and cemented the firm’s status for years to come in this wide-ranging fireside chat with a icon in venture capital.
Solving the crisis – how the business community is addressing the Bay Area’s regional challenges
Bay Area Council Economic Institute President Dr. Micah Weinberg will present on the Bay Area economy followed by a discussion with industry leaders to address the challenges borne out of the region’s economic success. How can companies work with elected officials and civic leaders to innovate, incentivize, and improve the quality of life for everyone in our region? Moderated by Council CEO Jim Wunderman, leaders from some of the Bay Area’s most prominent companies – including Carla Boragno of Genentech, Michael Matthews of Facebook and Vikrum Aiyer of Postmates – will explore issues such as housing, transportation and climate change, and the role the business community can play to drive social results.
Q&A Session: Creating Communities
with Dave Baszucki (Roblox)
A Very Busy Bee with Whitney Wolfe Herd (Bumble)
As the founder and CEO of one of the hottest dating apps, Whitney Wolfe Herd is set to discuss Bumble’s rapid growth, expansion into new verticals, and the company’s unconventional strategy around funding.
Security in the Age of AI with Mike Hanley (Duo Security) and Marc Rogers (Okta)
Machine learning can help companies better protect their networks, but it also provides attackers with new tools. Mike Hanley from Duo Security and Marc Rogers from Okta will discuss how their companies use these new technologies to keep hackers at bay and how others can do the same to keep their systems secure.
SPONSORED WORKSHOP – Bringing NASA Technology Down to Earth Sponsored by NASA
Whether you want to start a company, improve your existing products, or develop new ones, NASA may be the source for your technology solutions. Technology Transfer Program Executive Dan Lockney explains how NASA works with companies to develop new products and services.
All Raise Women Founder Roundtables
Join All Raise and female founders at Disrupt SF in interactive and intimate discussions on topics surrounding major challenges that female founders face such as fundraising, recruiting strategies, company culture, sales and marketing strategies, board/investor management, M&A and more. Open to female founders from all badge types.
Q&A Session: Investing in China
with Norman Liang (WI Harper Group), Hans Tung (GGV Capital) and Yi Wang (Lingochamp)
Moonshot Philanthropy with Priscilla Chan (Chan Zuckerberg Initiative)
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative co-founder Priscilla Chan will discuss how tech giants can fund the next era of charity, balancing global giving with local causes, and funding social good startups to create a sustainable positive impact.
Having Space in the Fund with Rob Coneybeer (Shasta Ventures), Tess Hatch (Bessemer Venture Partners) and Matt Ocko (DCVC)
They wanted moonshots, and now they have them. Hear from three top VCs on how space is no longer the final frontier of investing.
BREAK
Q&A Session: Making Mobility Possible
with Reilly Brennan (Trucks VC) and Laurie Yoler (Zoox)
BREAK
Uber, One Year Later with Dara Khosrowshahi (Uber)
Dara Khosrowshahi joined Uber last September following the ouster of then-CEO Travis Kalanick. It’s been a year since Khosrowshahi has taken the helm, and it’s time to talk about the challenges so far.
SPONSORED WORKSHOP – Bleeding-Edge IT Trends Explained Sponsored by SONM
Industry expert SONM CTO Igor Lebedev will finally explain what’s behind the concepts of blockchain, distributing computing and other hottest IT trends.
Q&A Session: Building for Voice
with Jason Mars (Clinc) and Dieter May (BMW)
Fireside Chat with Nikolay Storonsky (Revolut)
Nikolay Storonsky took his company from a $350 million valuation to a $1.7 billion valuation in under six months. Hear how he did it.
Investing Outside the Valley with Steve Case (Revolution) and J.D. Vance (Revolution's Rise of the Rest Seed Fund)
Aol co-founder Steve Case and best-selling author J.D. Vance are on a quest to find and fund startups throughout the United States. With a fresh $150m ready to invest, hear why the pair are bullish on startups operating outside of Silicon Valley.
SPONSORED SESSION – Bumble Bizz Presents: Building a Diverse Pipeline of Female Founder Talent
Join us for a lightning round Q&A with leading female VCs to discuss how they find and fund female leaders, especially women of color. Sponsored by Bumble
All Raise AMA
At this All Raise AMA, participants will have a chance to ask the top women in venture questions about whatever is top of mind.
The Art of Scaling with Reid Hoffman (Greylock)
As PayPal’s COO, LinkedIn’s co-founder, and a Greylock Partner, Reid Hoffman turns ideas into world-changing companies. Hear his thoughts on tomorrow’s startup opportunities, today’s industry problems, and evergreen strategies to improve your business.
Answering the Door with Jamie Siminoff (Ring)
Hardware is hard but Ring CEO Jamie Siminoff makes it look easy. Siminoff took the company from upstart to Amazon-owned in a few short years. How do you keep hardware fresh and how do you ensure privacy and security in a world of IoT? Siminoff has some ideas.
BREAK
BREAK
Privacy and the Public with Alex Stamos (Stanford University)
Facebook’s now-former chief security officer Alex Stamos will join us to chat about his tenure in the top security role for the world’s biggest social network, and how it feels to have weathered some of the biggest security and privacy scandals to ever hit the tech industry.
Electronic Apparel Demo with Rich Mahoney (Seismic)
Seismic founder and CEO Rich Mahoney will debut the latest version of his startup’s powered clothing. Through a combination of textiles and robotics, Seismic’s garments are a kind of soft robotic exoskeleton. The suit’s electro-mechanical muscles increase the wearer’s mobility, while remaining discreet under their clothing.
SPONSORED WORKSHOP – Quantum Computing with Qiskit Sponsored by IBM
Bring your laptop and join us for a hands-on workshop designed to get you quantum-ready. Leave with an understanding of how to program an IBM Q cloud-based quantum computer using Qiskit, a Python-based programming framework that is open, fully modular, and doesn’t require learning a new programming language. Participants will learn quantum fundamentals including working with quantum algorithms and applications using Qiskit Aqua, an end-to-end, cross-domain, modular and extensible software library that allows classical computer applications to interface with quantum computers. All levels of quantum expertise are welcome.
Q&A Session: Building and Selling a Company to Amazon
with Jamie Siminoff (Ring)
United in Discord with Jason Citron (Discord)
Hear CEO Jason Citron talk about how the company he founded dominated an emerging market for messaging and leveled up online gaming by erasing the stereotype of the lonely gamer.
Taking on Silicon Valley with Marty Chavez (Goldman Sachs)
Goldman Sachs is taking over the tech world through engineering (and not the financial kind); we’ll talk with its CFO (and former CIO) about the banking giant’s road map through Silicon Valley.
Building for Voice with Jason Mars (Clinc) and Alex Smola (Amazon Web Services)
Once upon a time, we used our voices for the vast majority of our communication. And then came the written word, and then came the internet. But everything old is new again. Hear from Jason Mars and Alex Smola as they discuss how voice may be the next dominant interface and how to build for that future.
Fireside Chat with Baiju Bhatt (Robinhood)
Hear how Robinhood figured out how to woo a younger audience into investing. But the startup, now worth $5.6 billion, can’t just remain a free stock trading app if it wants to become a next-generation financial institution — and it’s now looking to take over the whole notion of an investment portfolio including with cryptocurrency.
Q&A Session: Building on DLT
with Brian Behlendorf (Hyperledger), Mance Harmon (Hedera Hashgraph), Jutta Steiner (Parity Technologies) and Gert Sylvest (Tradeshift)
Q&A Session: Securing Everything
with Mike Hanley (Duo Security), Marc Rogers (Okta) and Alex Stamos (Stanford University)
Startup Battlefield Competition – Flight #3
TechCrunch’s iconic startup competition is back, as entrepreneurs from around the world pitch expert judges and vie for the Battlefield Cup and $100,000.
Home is Where the Robots Are with Colin Angle (iRobot)
With the Roomba, iRobot gave the world the only truly mainstream home robot. CEO Colin Angle will discuss how the company plans to make the device an even more indispensable part of the smart home ecosystem.
SPONSORED WORKSHOP – The Nuts And Bolts Of Location Aware Applications Sponsored by TomTom
Gregory De Jans, Head of Developer Relations offers a deep dive into the use of TomTom Maps APIs for developers looking to leverage the power of location insights. Learn about APIs for map display, search, routing, traffic and map SDKs.
Running Toward Connected Fitness with John Foley (Peloton)
Peloton has transformed the fitness game with its internet-connected stationary bikes. Founder and CEO John Foley will join us to discuss the unicorn company’s rapid growth in the world of high-tech fitness.
Q&A Session: Rebooting the Robots
with Colin Angle (iRobot), Tim Chen (SVV), Claire Delaunay (Nvidia) and Rich Mahoney (Seismic) -session powered by Shenzhen Valley Ventures
BREAK
Q&A Session: From Funding to FinTech
with Nikolay Storonsky (Revolut)
Connecting the Blocks with Sam Cassatt, Amanda Gutterman and Joseph Lubin (ConsenSys)
ConsenSys has emerged as an investing engine and powerful force shaping the commercial future of Ethereum-powered startups. Just how is the Ethereum blockchain altering the startup landscape?
The Sky’s the Limit with Chris Anderson (3DR), Adam Bry (Skydio), Laura Major (CyPhy Works) and Arnaud Thiercelin (DJI)
The drone revolution has just begun. From hobbyists to agriculture to the military, UAVs are set to have a profound impact on our economy and lives. Chris Anderson, Adam Bry, Laura Major and Arnaud Thiercelin will discuss the potential impact — and roadblocks — drones will face in the coming years.
Q&A Session: Creating with CRISPR
with Rachel Haurwitz (Caribou Biosciences) and Trevor Martin (Mammoth Biosciences)
BREAK
Driving Self-Driving Cars with Kyle Vogt (Cruise)
Fresh off a $2 billion dollar investment from Softbank, hear a discussion with the CEO and co-founder of Cruise on building a self-driving startup, working through regulations and working as a startup within a massive company like General Motor.
Building a New Voice with Sam Liang (AISense) and Cathy Pearl (Google)
The future is voice and in this wide-ranging panel, two leaders in the field will discuss the challenges and opportunities facing startups and mass organizations alike that are trying to build the perfect voice interface.
Q&A Session: Inside the Blockchain
with Sam Cassatt, Amanda Gutterman and Joe Lubin (ConsenSys)
Building A Successful Made-On-The-Internet Brand with Warby Parker’s Dave Gilboa
Warby Parker’s co-founder and co-CEO Dave Gilboa launched and scaled Warby Parker to become an iconic eyewear brand. He’ll fill us in on what it took to build the company, from launching with e-commerce to opening over 75 retail locations in the age of Amazon.
Investor Reception
Catch-up with colleagues and other investors at Disrupt over drinks and appetizers at this intimate reception. For registered Investor Pass Holders Only. Check your email for your invitation.
Q&A Session: Building a Drone Business
with Chris Anderson (3DR), Adam Bry (Skydio) and Laura Major (CyPhy Works)
Scooting Through Regulation with Sanjay Dastoor (Skip Scooters) and Tom Maguire (San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency)
Sanjay Dastoor, former Boosted Boards founder, started Skip Scooters to bring a heavy duty scooter to market. Tom Maguire is Director of the Sustainable Streets Division at the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, where he directs the agency’s ambitious efforts to achieve the city’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic fatalities. Together they’ll discuss what makes scooters and bikes trickier to navigate than on-demand car rides.
Even Harder Things with Ben Horowitz (Andreessen Horowitz)
The renowned A16Z investor and startup whisperer will sit down to discuss the hard things facing founders right now and how he feels they should overcome them).
The Future of DLT with Brian Behlendorf (Hyperledger), Jutta Steiner (Parity Technologies) and Gert Sylvest (Tradeshift)
Distributed ledger technology promises a world of decentralized computing but will it come to pass? Where does open source fit into the crypto gold rush and where is DLT going?
Launch and Demo with Brynn Putnam (Mirror)
Watch the unveiling of Mirror, which aims to redefine personal fitness.
Q&A Session: Augmenting Reality
with Ankit Kumar and Anjney Midha (Ubiquity6)
Startup Battlefield Competition – Flight #4
TechCrunch’s iconic startup competition is back, as entrepreneurs from around the world pitch expert judges and vie for the Battlefield Cup and $100,000.
Programming Life with Rachel Haurwitz (Caribou Biosciences) and Trevor Martin (Mammoth Biosciences)
CRISPR has the potential to change everything and Rachel Haurwitz and Trevor Martin will sit down to discuss the challenges and opportunities for startups looking to enter this competitive market.
WRAP
WRAP
Disrupt After Party @ The Midway
Get your TBT IRL with TechCrunch’s 90s theme After Party for a night of live entertainment, drinks, and food (for purchase) to wrap up a fantastic second day of Disrupt SF. 21+ only. Disrupt Badge + Gov. Issued photo ID required. Not open to Basic Pass Holders.
September 7th
Registration Open / Doors Open
Welcome to Disrupt SF! Doors will open at 7:30am and you can pick up your badge at registration from 7:30am to 4:30pm today.
Opening Remarks: Matthew Panzarino (TechCrunch)
Opening Remarks: Mike Butcher (TechCrunch)
The Power and the Promise of 5G with Chaitanya Kanojia (Starry)
5G has been on the horizon for years, and it looks like it’s almost here. What does that mean? Will it be the technological leap we’ve been waiting for?
Quantum Advantage with Dario Gil (IBM)
IBM has long been at the forefront of quantum computing. In order to more rapidly realize quantum’s potential and make it widely accessible, the company is collaborating with a vast community of researchers, developers and organizations. Find out how you can be a part of it. We’ll talk about what you can do now to prepare for quantum advantage — when quantum systems surpass the computational power of classical computers — and how quantum computers may be put to use to advance business and science.
Beauty and the Beat with Emily Weiss (Glossier) and Kirsten Green (Forerunner Ventures)
Cosmetics company Glossier got its start as a spinoff of a beauty blog, Into the Gloss, and both have become that rare thing in the world of startups, breakout hits. Hear from the mastermind behind both, Emily Weiss and her star investor Kirsten Green, about how the two were built, and why they don’t worry about being beat by Amazon.
The Robot Doctor with Robin Berzin (Parsley Health) and Aaron Patzer (Vital Software)
What happens when AI is in charge of our health care? Robin Berzin and Aaron Patzer will attempt to answer that and more in this fireside chat about the future of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
SPONSORED SESSION – Automotive AI expands expectations for the smart device – by BYTON
Artificial intelligence will be built into future cars, but what if it will also support the user experience? From predictive service to habit-based trip planning, BYTON’s Carsten Breitfeld will highlight how AI will expand user expectations.
Building a Quantum Computing startup with Chad Rigetti (Rigetti Computing)
Rigetti Computing wants to make quantum computing available to every developer. To do that, the well-funded startup is building its own quantum computers that will compete with those of its bigger competitors. Rigetti Founder and CEO Chad Rigetti will join us to talk about the challenges of building a quantum computer in 2018 and where the company is going next.
SPONSORED WORKSHOP – The Best Route For Startups: Integrating Location Sponsored by Here Technologies
Discover why the question of ‘where’ is more relevant than ever before. This workshop is specifically designed with startups in mind. Learn how to quickly onboard fundamental location services into software solutions. Get hands-on training with the HERE Freemium Plan to use services such as geocoding, routing, and positioning to build location-aware features.
Q&A Session: HealthTech on the Horizon
with Robin Berzin (Parsley Health) and Aaron Patzer (Vital Software)
Printing the Next Footwear Joseph DeSimone (Carbon) and Eric Liedtke (Adidas)
Carbon’s unique technology has already printed thousands of Adidas’ 3D Futurecraft sneakers, with plans to expand into the millions. Hear executives from both companies talk about using technology to design soles that can’t be created with more traditional methods.
Y Combinator Do’s and Don’ts: In Conversation with Dalton Caldwell and Michael Seibel (Y Combinator)
Y Combinator fundamentally changed the investing game circa 2007 with its approach of taking shots in the dark on a wide array of companies. That strategy finally paid off earlier this year when Dropbox went public, a “dream come true” for the firm. But now there are dozens of accelerators and an at-times ridiculous amount of seed capital available — so it comes down to what Y Combinator can offer its founders and where it thinks the whole idea of an “accelerator” is going.
Q&A Session: The Future According to Quantum Computing
with Dario Gil (IBM)
BREAK
BREAK
Q&A Session: Inside Y Combinator
with Dalton Caldwell and Michael Seibel (Y Combinator)
Betting on a Touchdown with Jason Robins (DraftKings)
DraftKings has thrust itself to the forefront of disruption, bringing fantasy sports to the mainstream. But not without a few bumps alongs the way. Hear CEO Jason Robins discuss the path to getting here and what he has planned for the future of the company.
Q&A Session: The Next Super Computers
with Chad Rigetti (Rigetti Computing)
Creating A Monster with Mike Judge (Silicon Valley)
No show has done a better job of portraying Silicon Valley than… well, Silicon Valley. Co-creator Mike Judge talks about the show’s monster success. Plus, what’s new for Season 6?
Dismantling Algorithmic Bias with Patrick Ball (HRDAG), Brian Brackeen (Kairos) and Kristian Lum (HRDAG)
We often hear of racist and biased algorithms, but what does it take to ensure the algorithms used to make decisions about potentially life-changing circumstances like bail and policing are fair? And what does fair even mean? Human Rights Data Analysis data scientists Patrick Ball and Kristian Lum alongside Kairos’ Brian Brackeen are going to help answer those questions.
Q&A Session: Digging into Design
with Ken Kocienda. Book signing to follow
How African Founders are Enabling Tomorrow's Startups with Fope Adelowo (Helios Investment Partners), Ken Njoroge (Cellulant), Tayo Oviosu (Paga Payments)
Elite members of Africa’s startup landscape talk to us about the challenges and opportunities in one of the newest (and most exciting) emerging markets for tech entrepreneurship.
Good For You with Laura Deming (The Longevity Fund), Arvind Gupta (SOSV), Nina Kjellson (Canaan Partners)
Hear three top biotech investors talk about what they are on the lookout for, and how to avoid the hype, in the ever-fascinating and quickly evolving worlds of biotechnology, medicine and health.
Demo with Brian Brackeen (Kairos)
Facial recognition is coming whether we like or not, but Kairos CEO Brian Brackeen is particularly cautious about how this technology might be used.
BREAK
BREAK
Q&A Session: Inside Africa's Tech Ecosystem
with Fope Adelowo (Helioslip), Ken Njoroge (Cellulant) and Tayo Oviosu (Paga Payments)
Are Fat Rounds Eating the Lean Startup? with Eric Ries (author, The Lean Startup) and David Hornik (August Capital)
In an era of multi-billion dollar investment rounds and hundred billion dollar funds can a lean startup survive? Eric Ries, the architect of the lean startup model, and David Hornik, the managing partner of August Capital, will help us find out.
Startup Battlefield Alumni Update
Battlefield startups from the past return to the stage to tell us what they’ve been up to since they competed for the Disrupt Cup.
SPONSORED WORKSHOP – Beyond the ICO: New approaches to fundraising and VC’s role in crypto Sponsored by Constellation Labs
Constellation has been through an extraordinary period of fundraising and subsequent growth. Ben Jorgensen (COO of Constellation Labs), Jacob Mullins (Shasta Ventures), Erika Perez (Global Leader of IBM Blockchain Strategy & Ecosystem), and Jascha Kaykas-Wolff (CMO of Mozilla), will share their experiences in this interactive session exploring the complex and ever-changing fund raising models available, and how venture capital is approaching the space.
Startup Battlefield – Final Round
TechCrunch’s iconic startup competition is back, as entrepreneurs from around the world pitch expert judges and vie for the Battlefield Cup and $100,000.
Extinguishing Silicon Valley’s Trash Fire with Bo Young Lee (Uber)
Uber’s head of diversity has been busy. Looking to recover from a year of sexual harassment allegations, we’ll hear from Uber’s Bo Young Lee about how they’re trying to make amends.
Q&A Session: Building Lean Startups
with David Hornik (August Capital) and Eric Ries (The Lean Startup). Book signing to follow
Q&A Session: Gaming’s Culture
with Jason Citron (Discord) and Delane Parnell (PlayVS)
Hackathon Finals
Finalists from our first-ever virtual Hackathon will take the stage to pitch their wares.
SPONSORED WORKSHOP – Running a node on a distributed ledger: Live Demo Sponsored by Constellation Labs
Wyatt (CTO of Constellation Labs) and Ryle (VP of Engineering of Constellation Labs) will demystify the key components of distributed ledger technology, and provide a guide on how to set up a Constellation node. Participants will leave with the basic skills they need to contribute to an emerging 3rd-Gen protocol.
BREAK
Finding Solutions for Local News with Razmig Hovaghimian (Hoodline)
News deserts are growing as local media struggles to succeed online. Hear how Hoodline is building technology to help publishers and platforms cover more local stories and better inform their users.
How Coinbase Keeps Building with Brian Armstrong (Coinbase)
Brian Armstrong, the CEO of Coinbase, has kept his company going through booms and busts and in this one-on-one we’ll explore what Coinbase did to keep his focus on providing cryptocurrency services.
Launch and Demo with Delane Parnell (PlayVS)
Hear from Delane Parnell about the evolution of esports, and check out the high school esports platform for the very first time.
SPECIAL SPONSORED ANNOUNCEMENTS
Will AI Diversify Human Thinking or Replace It? with Chris Ategeka (UCOT), Timnit Gebru (Google AI) and Ken Goldberg (UC Berkeley)
Whether it’s killer robots, irresponsible AI drivers, or prejudiced policing, advances in technology are spawning threats that sound straight out of sci-fi but could affect millions worldwide. Chris Ategeka, Timnit Gebru, and Ken Goldberg address the question of how to be responsible stewards of advanced technology and tackle these problems before they change or take lives.
How Steve Jobs Thought Different with Ken Kocienda
Hear from a retired 15-year Apple employee and author of the just published book, “Creative Selection: Inside Apple’s Design Process During the Golden Age of Steve Jobs” on Apple’s creative process.
Startup Battlefield Closing Awards Ceremony
Watch the crowning of the latest winner of Startup Battlefield.